CBS News New York Annual Turkey Drive for Community Food Bank of New Jersey

Season of Giving Turkey Drive

• 🤝 CBS News New York partnered with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey for their annual turkey drive, marking the fourth year of this collaboration.
• 📍 Teams collected donations at ACME in Edgewater, ShopRite in Livingston, and SmartWorld Coffee in Denville.

Combating Food Insecurity in New Jersey

• ⚠️ Approximately one in 10 people in New Jersey face food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to healthy food for their families.
• 🗓️ While the holiday season is critical, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey operates as a 365-day-a-year operation, emphasizing the ongoing need for donations and volunteers.
• 📈 Since the height of the pandemic, food insecurity in New Jersey has risen by about 65%, with the need being even greater due to factors like government shutdowns and SNAP benefit changes.

Community Efforts and Donations

• 🦃 The drive successfully collected a significant number of turkeys, with counts reaching 174 in Danville and 96 in Livingston by the end of segments.
• 💰 Financial donations are also crucial, with every dollar providing three nutritious meals.
• 🤝 Volunteers and community members expressed immense satisfaction in giving back, highlighting the joy and warmth derived from helping neighbors.

Partnerships and Special Guests

• 🥕 The Community Food Bank of New Jersey introduced its new mascot, Rudy the root vegetable, at the Livingston location.
• 🌭 A partnership with Premo Sausage at the Edgewater ACME offered a sausage slider to those donating turkeys or sides.
• 🛒 ShopRite, a long-time partner, has donated over $1.25 million to food banks in the tri-state area, underscoring their commitment to community service.

Impact and Ongoing Need

• 🌟 The turkey drive aims to ensure families have Thanksgiving meals, with donations directly supporting neighbors in need.
• 🌐 Those unable to donate in person can still contribute by scanning a QR code on screen, directing them to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey's website (cfbj.org).
• 💯 The event celebrated neighborly kindness and generosity, emphasizing that even small contributions make a significant difference in easing the burden for families facing hardship.